Newsletter

Posted January 15, 2014 01:26 pm

Contributing writer

The King and Prince Hotel on St. Simons Island

Sea Island is the most famous of Georgia’s Golden Isles but many experienced visitors to this area prefer neighboring St. Simons Island. This historic seaside village has two long streets of quaint shops and restaurants flowing all the way to the ocean. The beaches on St. Simons are actually the best around and it is not surprising that it has been voted one of the top 10 islands in the US. The best place to take all this in is the King and Prince Hotel.

The Resort

This beachside hotel is ideal for families and couples. Room sizes run the full gambit from standard to three bedroom oceanfront condos. They even have small houses available. We stayed in one of the 3 bedroom units and it was very tastefully decorated. The views of the ocean were stunning with the waves so close you could almost jump in from the balcony. These units have a full kitchen and LCD TV’s in every room. Just down the steps from our second floor unit was a very private pool area with the ocean only a few more yards. Those in love of picking sea shells will like this beach especially at high tide.

Breakfast each morning at the King’s Tavern Restaurant was eagerly anticipated by all in my party. This room has real southern charm with traditional antique furnishings and more sweeping vistas of this oceanfront setting. The King’s Tavern prides itself on its farm to freshness cuisine and we noticed it was very popular with local residents, which is always a good sign. Lunch and Dinner are also served daily.

The King and Prince has been around for 76 years and has continually been renovated. “The Castle” renovation will be complete in early 2014 and will be a complete makeover of the lobby and main restaurant. If you like the feel of the “Old South”, this is the place for you. In 2005 the property was elected to the National Registry of Historic Places. As they upgrade they have continued the gracious Southern hospitality and kept touch with their roots.

The Activities

Bike riding is big here and the resort has plenty of inventory. You can choose from a marsh view cruise or even ride on the compacted sand near low tide. There is plenty of beach to navigate whether on wheels or foot. One adventure that caught my eye was the opportunity to spend time on a working shrimp boat. Shrimpin aboard the Lady Jane with Captain Larry Credle is the place for this 2 hour adventure that is sure to leave you with some of the best tasting shrimp you will ever try. The tour departs from the Brunswick docks less than a mile from the St. Simons causeway.

The Golf

The King and Prince Golf Course is set in an inland marsh area surrounded by waterways. Famed golf architect Joe Lee designed the course which is very highly ranked in the state of Georgia. This site was once the anti-bellum Hampton Plantation whose history dates back to the 18th century. Back then it was known for producing cotton, indigo and rice. These days it produces some of the best marsh views a golfer will find. Four of the holes are set on marsh islands which golfers access by long cart bridges.

The Packages

The resort is currently doing remodeling to its main lobby and restaurant housed in “The Castle”. From now until this is done on February 13 they are running a special of $99 for standard rooms and $139 for oceanfront. A step up from this is their Beach, Bed & Breakfast offering which starts at $202/ night and includes breakfast for all guests. The Royal Golf Package starts at $302/ night and includes green fees, cart and range.

The busiest time of the year is the peak summer beach season. Before and after this the spring and fall offer many great weather opportunities to see this area at its best. Even during the winter you will have many spring like days. On our recent winter visit the first day was very cold but day 2 was perfect and close to 70.